Plunger or the like operating mechanism



June 15, 1937. A. L. KELTNER 2,084,091

PLUNGER OR THE LIKE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet l lllllllllhi June 15, 1937. A, L, KELTNE 2,084,091

PLUNGER OR THE LIKE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PLUNGER OR THE LIKEOPERATING MECHANISM Amos Lea Keltner, Hutchinson, Kans.

Application May 28, 1936, Serial No; 82,344

10 Claims.

This invention relates to plunger or the like operating mechanism andmore particularly to mechanism of this kind which is adapted to impartstraight-line movement to a pump plunger or other element.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved mechanism ofthis class including an operating beam, lever or the like which is somounted and driven that the end or other portion thereof which isconnected to the plunger element will move in a straight line.

Another object is the provision of a mechanism of this kind includingmeans for cushioning the load and for dampening out vibrations whichotherwise might be caused by shock or peak loads, the cushioning meansalso serving to effect a harmonic or semi-harmonic movement of theplunger or other driven element.

A further object is the provision of a compact,

2n self-contained, mobile pumping mechanism. Other objects will beapparent from a reading of the following description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of mechanism embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

For the purposes of illustration, the invention is shown and describedas embodied in a well pumping mechanism for operating the plunger I of awell equipped with a casing 2 provided with a stuffing box 3.

In the form shown, the entire mechanism is mounted upon a mobile skidbase 4. The mechanism comprises a floating pumping beam 5, the left-handend of which is pivoted at 6 to the upper end of a jack post or swingingfulcrum arm I having its lower end mounted on a fixed pivot 8 on thebase 4. The right-hand end of 40 the beam 5 is pivotally connected at 9to the plunger I, and preferably the pivotal connection 9 includes aclamp screw I i! for connecting the beam 5 to the plunger I at selectedpositions along the plunger,

45 An intermediate driving lever or reduction beam II is mounted on afixed pivot I2 on posts or standards I3 extending upwardly from the base3. To the left of the pivot I2 the reduction beam I I is pivoted at I4to the upper ends of 50 links I 5, the lower ends of which are pivotedat I6 to leaf spring assemblies I! connected to the pumping beam 5. Tothe right of the pivot I2 the reduction beam I I is pivoted as at I8 tothe upper ends of pitmen IS, the lower ends of which are connected as at20 to cranks 2|. Preferably each crank is formed with a plurality ofopenings 22 for receiving the associated crank pin in a plurality ofpositions spaced at selected distances from the crank shaft 23. Thecrank shaft may be driven in any suitable manner, as 5 by means of a gasengine 24 connected to the crank shaft through the medium of anysuitable reduction gearing 25.

When the well is deep and the plunger I consequently is heavy, it isdesirable to provide means 10 for counterbalancing the weight of theplunger.

In the form shown, such means comprises counter-weightdevices mounted onthe extreme righthand end of the reduction beam II.

A leaf spring buffer 21 is mounted on a bracket 15 28 extending upwardlyfrom the base 4 adjacent the pivot 8 and is positioned to engage theswinging fulcrum arm I, so as to cushion movement of the latter in aclockwise direction. The

bracket 28 is formed with stop-receiving seats 20 29 and 30, eachadapted to receive a stop pin 3I. Normally the pin 3| is positioned inthe seat 29 and serves to limit the normal operating movement of thefulcrum arm I. When it is desired to remove the plunger rod I or thewell casing 2, the pin 3! is removed from the seat 29 and placed in theseat 30. The pumping beam 9 is then disconnected from the plunger I. Thefulcrum arm I may then swing in a counter-clockwise direction until itsmovement is stopped by 30 the pin 3! in the seat 30. When the fulcrumarm has moved to this position, the parts will be in the positions shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the pumping beam will be clear of thepump rod and well casing, so that the latter may be removed or workedupon without interference.

In operation, rotation of the crank will cause the intermediate leverbeam I I to oscillate about the fixed pivot I2 which will cause the pumpbeam to move up and down about the floating 40 fulcrum 6. The fulcrum 6will move along the short arc x so that the pivot 9 on the pumping beamwill move in a straight vertical line.

The spring assembly II, being interposed between the driving link I5 andthe pumping beam, will cushion the load so as to dispense with shocksand dampen the vibrations. I have found that the provision of the springI! results in imparting a harmonic motion to the pump rod, permittingthe rod to vary in motion according to the load, and reducing thefatiguing stress when heavy loads are encountered.

Although the mechanism disclosed herein embodies the invention in itsnow preferred form, various changes may be made in the specificconstruction and the relative arrangement of the parts without departingfrom the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim: a l. Plunger or the like operating mechanism comprising areciprocatory driven member; a fulcrum arm mounted to swing about afixed pivot; a fixed post positioned between said reciprocatory drivenmember and said fulcrum arm; afloating beam havingone end connected tosaid driven member and having its other end pivotally connected to theswinging end of the fulcrum arm; a reduction beamhaving unequal leverarms pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said post at a pointabove saidfloating beam; a link pivotally connected to the shorter orworking arm of said reduction beam and pivotally connected to saidfloating beam; and driving means connected to the longer arm of saidreduction beamfor operating the latter.

2. Plunger or the like operating mechanism comprising a reciprocatorydriven member; a fulcrum arm mounted to swing about a fixed pivot; afixed post positioned between said reciprocatory driven member and saidfulcrum arm; a floating beam having one end connected to said drivenmember and having its other end pivotally'co-nnected to'the swinging endof the fulcrum arm; a reduction beam having unequal lever arms pivotallymounted intermediate its ends on said post; a link connecting theshorter arm of said reduction beam to said floating beam; acounterweight on the longer arm of said reduction beam; a driving meansconnected to said i longer arm between said counterweight and said postand at a point further from the post than the point of connection ofsaid link to said shorter '3.'Plunger or the like operating mechanismcomprising a reciprocatory driven member; a floating member pivotallyconnected to said reciprocatory member; a fulcrum arm mounted to swingabout a fixed pivot and being pivotally connected to said floatingmember; an intermediate driving lever mounted to rock about a fixedpivot;

a link pivotally connected to said intermediate lever; a resilientpivotal connection between said link and said floating member; and"means for rocking said intermediate lever.

Plunger or the like operating mechanism comprising a reciprocatorydriven. member; a floating member pivotally connected to saidreciprocatory member; a fulcrum arm mounted to swing about a fixed pivotand being pivotally connected to said floating member; a bufferpositioned to cooperate with and cushion the swinging movement of thefulcrum arm; an intermediate' driving lever mounted torock about a fixedpivot; a link pivotally connected to said intermediate lever and to saidfloating member; and means for rocking said intermediate lever.

' 5. Plunger or the like operating mechanism comprising a reciprocatorydriven member; a fulcrum arm mounted to swing about a fixed pivot; afixed post positioned between said reduction beam being such that thepivotally connected to said floating beam; and

driving means connected to the longer arm of said reduction beam foroperating the latter,

said reduction beam being connected to said link,

said post, and said driving means only, the proportionate ratio of theconnections on the reworking end of the reduction beam will describe anare reversed to that described by the working end of the floating beamwhereby the latter arc is neutralized or flattened out so that theworking end of the floating beam will perform substantiallystraight-line movement.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 incombination with a skid basesupporting the said mechanism.

7. The combination with'a reciprocatory pump rod, of a pumping beampivotally connected at one of its ends to said pump rod; a fulcrum armmounted to swing about a fixed pivot; a pivotal connectionfbetween saidfulcrum'armi'and said pumping beam; a reduction beam mounted to rockabouta fixed pivot; a link pivotally connected to said reduction beamandto said pump ing beam; a springintfllwsed in'the connection between saidreduction beam and said pumping beam; a crankyand a pitman connectingsaid crank to said reduction beam.

' 8. The combination with a; reciprocatory pump rod, of a pumping beampivotally connected at rock about a fixed'pivot; a link pivotallyconnected to said reduction beam and to said pumping beam; a crank; apitman connecting said crank to said reductionjbeam; two spacedstopreceiving seats; and a removable stop member adapted when positionedin one of said seats to confine movement of said fulcrum arm to a normaloperating limit, and when positioned in the other seat to permit saidfulcrum arm to swing beyond its normal operating range to therebymovesaid pumping beam and said reduction beam away from said pump rod.

9. The combination as defined in claim land including a brakeoperatively connected with the crank for'arresting movement of themechanism at any position of the pump rod..

10. The combination as defined in claim 1 and including meansforrconnecting the pumping beam to the pump rod at selected positions onthe latter. 7

A. LEA KELTNER.

